What Would You Do If You Were on a Sinking Ship? — Survey of the Day

The recent Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster in Italy left 11 dead and 21 missing. Poll Position asked 1,145 American adults what they would do, if given the choice between waiting on a sinking ship for help or jumping into the frigid water and trying to swim to safety.

Forty-two percent of the survey’s respondents said they’d test their luck in the water, whereas 29 percent answered they’d stay on the sinking ship in hopes help would eventually arrive, and 29 percent didn’t offer an opinion or didn’t know what they’d do.

Those over 65 — who probably wouldn’t be the most confident swimmers — were the only demographic group that clearly favored waiting on the ship for help.